If you are caring for a newborn or very young puppy, you will need to know how to tube feed a puppy. This is especially common if the puppy is an orphan or if the mother has a C-section. While there are other forms of hand-feeding a puppy, this is widely considered the best and most efficient way to do it.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Stacking the Food Tube
Step 1. Gather your equipment
You will need a 12 cc syringe, a soft rubber feeding tube, and a 16-inch urethral catheter with a diameter of 5 French (for small dogs) and 8 French (for large dogs). These are the items you will use to make your feeding tube kit. You will also need a puppy milk substitute that contains goat's milk, such as ESBILAC®.
You can also purchase a prepackaged feeding tube from your local vet's office or pet store
Step 2. Weigh the puppy
You will need to determine the pup's weight so you know how much milk replacement to give him. Place it on a scale to determine its weight. For every ounce of a puppy's weight, give 1 cc or ml of milk replacement.
Step 3. Measure the right amount of milk in a microwaveable bowl. Add one extra cc just in case. You may want to heat up the milk substitute so the milk will be lighter on the puppy's tummy. Microwave the milk for three to five seconds so the milk will reach a lukewarm temperature.
Step 4. Use a syringe to suck up the milk substitute
Take the milk until you have the measured amount of milk, with an extra one cc. The extra cc will be used to make sure the puppy doesn't get any air bubbles, which can cause bloating or gas pain.
When the syringe has taken up all the milk replacement, press down gently until a small droplet comes out of the syringe. Doing this will ensure that the syringe is working properly
Step 5. Attach the feeding tube to the syringe
You need to attach the end of the rubber feeding tube to the end of the syringe.
Step 6. Measure the length of the tube that you will insert into the puppy's mouth
To do this, place the end of the rubber tube against the pup's underside, or lastly, the ribs, and run the tube from there to the tip of the puppy's nose. Pinch the tube where it touches the puppy's nose and make a mark there using a permanent marker.
Method 2 of 2: Feeding Puppies
Step 1. Place the puppy on a table
You should cover the table with a towel in case it spills. Let the puppy lie on all fours, so he lies on his stomach with his legs outstretched and his hind legs tucked under him. Put a drop of the formula on the inside of your wrist to make sure it's lukewarm and not too hot.
Step 2. Hold the puppy's head in your hands
Hold the puppy's head firmly between your index finger and thumb so your fingers are at the corners of the puppy's mouth. Lift your head slightly up so you can see what you're doing. Hold the tip of the tube against the puppy's tongue and let him taste a drop of milk. Doing this will help line the esophagus and prepare it for eating.
Step 3. Insert the catheter slowly but efficiently
You don't want to do it too slowly or the puppy will vomit. Aim the tube over the tongue and down to the back of the throat. You'll know you're on the right track when the Pup begins to receive the tube. If he coughs or vomits, remove the tube and try again.
Step 4. Feed the tube into the puppy's mouth
Stop feeding the tube down when the marked part of the tube reaches the puppy's mouth. Check to make sure that the puppy is not coughing, crying or vomiting. Otherwise, secure the tube by placing it between your index and middle fingers.
Step 5. Feed the puppy
After securing the feeding tube, depress the syringe plunger and feed the puppy one cc or ml at a time. To know when to let the puppy rest between each cc, count to three seconds in your head while slowly depressing the plunger. After three seconds, check to see if any milk is coming out of the puppy's nose. If there is, remove the tube as this means the puppy is choking. After you check, press the syringe for another three seconds.
Hold the syringe parallel to the puppy for the most efficient way of feeding
Step 6. Remove the tube
When all the milk has been fed to the puppy, slowly remove the tube. To do this, gently pull it out still holding the puppy's head. Once the tube is removed, place your little finger in the puppy's mouth and let him suck on your finger for 5 to 10 seconds. Doing this ensures that the puppy will not vomit.
Step 7. Help the puppy to defecate
If possible, take the puppy to its mother. The mother will lick the pup's rectum, which will help the puppy defecate. If the puppy is a newborn orphan, use a wet washcloth or cotton ball to stimulate the mother's licking. Doing this is very important, as pooping will help the puppy to get rid of the waste that has been stuck in his intestines.
Step 8. Check the puppy for gas or bloating
To do this, pick up the puppy and stroke its belly. If it is very tight, it has gas or bloating. If this is the case, you will need to burp the puppy. To do this, lift the puppy by placing your palms under his belly and lifting him up. Rub his back and bottom to help him burp.
Step 9. Repeat this feeding process every two hours for the first five days, After five days have passed, feed the puppy every three hours
Tips
- If you have an emergency situation where you need to feed the puppies, buying prepackaged feeding tubes will help speed up the process.
- While there are other ways of feeding, this is the fastest and most reliable.
Warning
- Never force a tube down a puppy's throat. If you encounter resistance, it means you are trying to get it down your windpipe, which can be fatal. Remove the tube and try again.
- If you will be using the tube to feed another puppy, rinse all the parts before you feed the next puppy.
